By Robert Jones
THE 2019 Cardiff Half Marathon takes place tomorrow with around 27,500 athletes from around the world expected to participate in the iconic 13.1-mile course.
Runners of all abilities will be competing, with women making up the majority of the field for the first time in the event’s 16-year history. This includes Sharon Owen, director of the charity Welsh Hearts.
Welsh Hearts have established the Have a Heart appeal which aims to raise £1 million, allowing the charity to screen every young heart in Wales.
As part of this appeal the charity have launched the Ben McDonald Heart Screening Fund which was established following his death in last year’s event.
Speaking about the fundraising event and what they wanted to achieve Ms Owen said: “I think it was in February, out of the blue I had an email from Ben’s sister Vicky Edwards, they were doing ‘The Ben Jam’ festival for his birthday in May and [they asked] could they meet me to see if we could work together and put on a fundraising event that actually ended up raising around £9,000.
“That’s how I got to meet Vicky and Steve, Ben’s brother, which led me to meet Ruth and Paul, Ben’s parents at the festival also, and we just got on really well. We then searched up the half marathon and I said to her that I would be honoured to be walking with them, I’m not a runner but I love walking.”
Our elite athletes have arrived in Cardiff. It's going to be a thrilling race! #CardiffHalf pic.twitter.com/6asdqRDaFc
— Cardiff Half Marathon (@CardiffHalf) October 5, 2019
Also competing this year is University of South Wales second year Sports Journalism student James Dodd, who spoke to ExpoSport ahead of the event about his goals and reasons for participation.
“I’m running for the Charlie Waller memorial trust, which runs Boys In Mind. It’s a charity which raises awareness for boy’s mental health. They work with a number of organisations and schools to organise training days, and end the stigma about mental health.
“Running for me has helped me get over a lot of stress and anxiety, I feel like this is one that is close to my heart, and I feel that running is something that can really improve someone’s mental health, so I thought it’d be fitting to run for the Charlie Waller memorial trust.
“My target was £150 and I’ve matched that, it would be nice to get a bit more before Sunday but I’m very happy to have reached my target.”
What’s the event information you need to know?
The race gets underway at 10am on Sunday the 6th of October, with Cardiff Castle the starting point. The course remains unchanged in 2019, and is predominantly a flat course which includes scenic views such as Penarth Marina and Cardiff Bay.